- Alan Finn
- Sat, Apr 19 2014
SLIGO Rovers continued their new-found form with a 5-0 thrashing of UCD at The Showgrounds on Friday evening.
Alan Keane, Aaron Greene, Eric Odhiambo and former students Paul O’Conor and Danny Ledwith were on target as The Bit O’Red recorded their second League victory of the season.
The visitors forced the first save of the game after 15 minutes when Tomas Boyle got on the end of a free-kick but seen his header saved by Gary Rogers.
Ten minutes later, Boyle was given his marching orders with a straight red card after hauling Aaron Greene down in the box.
Rovers captain Alan Keane stepped up and made no mistake as he slotted home for his second goal in as many home games.
The home side doubled their lead in the 36th minute when Greene crossed for Ross Gaynor in the box who had time and space to knock the ball to the edge of the box for Paul O’Conor to score on the volley. His first goal for the club.
Four minutes into the second half Greene was at the centre of yet another attack, this time capitalising on hesitancy at the back to put Danny Ledwith through on goal, but he couldn’t beat the on-rushing Mark McGinley.
Rovers remained well on top in the second-half and grabbed a richly deserved third goal in the 66th minute.
Joseph Ndo picked out John Russell in the middle of the pitch, who quickly switched it out right for Kieran Djilali to swing a cross in for Greene to score with a fine header.
In the blink of an eye, it then became 4-0, Greene turning provider as he chipped a ball in for Ledwith to score from a tight angle.
Rovers continued their onslaught and were awarded another penalty in the 78th minute after Djilali was fouled in the box. Keane could not convert his spot-kick on the occasion, but substitute Eric Odhiambo was on hand to knock in the rebound.
Djilali and Greene both came agonisingly close to making it 6-0 in the following minutes, but both players saw their efforts narrowly off-target.
Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Alan Keane, Evan McMillan, Jeff Henderson, Ross Gaynor; Joseph Ndo (Danny North 66), David Cawley (John Russell 46), Paul O’Conor, Kieran Djilali, Danny Ledwith (Eric Odhiambo 70); Aaron Greene.
Subs not used: Richard Brush (gk), Jake Dykes, Kalen Spillane, Sean Maguire.
Bookings: Cawley (), Ledwith ().
UCD: Conor O’Donnell; Gareth Matthews, Tomas Boyle, Mark Langtry (Tom O‘Halloran 75), James Kavanagh; Chris Mulhall, Robbie Creevy, Robbie Benson, Gary Burke (Michael Barker 28); Samir Belhout, Cillian Morrison (Colm Crowe 75).
Subs not used: Mark McGinley (gk), Barry McCabe, Dwayne Wilson, Michael Scott.
Bookings: Boyle ().
Sent off: Boyle ().
Referee: Paul Tuite.
Attendance: 3,331.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Aaron Greene (Sligo Rovers).
